ISGMN:
First of all, introduce yourselves. Give us your names, your group name
and a short bio.CB:
The Crandall Brothers are Lee (tenor) Tim (lead) and Dave (baritone).
We began our ministry in 1969 in Vallejo, California at the Assembly of
God church where our father, Rev. M.F. Crandall pastored. The group
was comprised of Lee, Dave and eldest brother Dwight. Dwight was 24 yearsof
age, Lee was 17 and Dave was 10. We would sing hymns and other gospel
songs during offering time and do a "special" now and then. Our church
and other churches in the area would join together for what was called
exchange services and each church would have special music and preaching.
Before long we were being invited to other local churches for small concerts.
God began to bless more and more invitations to other churches came.ISGMN:
Also, tell us about your relationship with Christ and how you came to know
Him.CB:
Our whole family was raised in church, but there came a time when we had
to commit our lives to Christ. Lee was 5 years old when he came to Jesus
at a little Assembly of God church in Lawndale, Ca. I (Dave) was
8 when I was saved. For a long time I continued to sing but was secretly
living alife not pleasing to God. In 1980
I recommitted my life to Christ. Tim in 1983 after nearly losing his life
to a drug overdose cried out to God and was saved and delivered. We thank
God for his mercy.ISGMN:
Please give us an example of how Christ has used a particular situation
in your life to increase your faith in Him.CB:
It seems our faith in Christ is increased with every service we go to as
people are saved and touched by His power. Recently a special event took
place when we discovered our mother had been diagnosed with cancer. After
the surgery was complete the doctor told us it was not really needed.What
he went in to get simply wasn't there any more. God had healed her completely.ISGMN:
How long have you been singing Southern Gospel music?CB:
We just celebrated 31 years as a ministry. Our music mostly identifies
with the Southern Gospel style but we just like to be known as a
music ministry of an anointed "style".ISGMN:
Which group or artist has had the most influence on what and how you sing?CB:
We were influenced by some of the "old time" gospel groups such as Hovie
Lister and The Statesmen, The Blackwoods, The Stamps, And too many others
to name. Lee was especially influenced by the late Rosie Rozelle. In 1970,
when Rosie had a group called The Searchers, we met him for the first time
at a church where they were singing and we were the "warm -up" group. He
was a very gracious man. In the 1970's we used to sing at the Oakland Civic
Center at concerts sponsored by Polly Grimes. Groups like The above mentioned
and many others would perform.ISGMN:
Give us a funny "road" story. Tell us about your most embarrasing or humorous
moment while singing or traveling.CB:
There have been so many humorous stories I could tell but I'll share just
one. We were in Fresno, Ca. to sing at a Sunday afternoon concert. The
church was in a building program at the time so we were setting up our
sound in the gymnasium. Me and our former lead singer Dale Durant had a
volley ball and were playing basket ball with it. Lee was carrying in some
of the equipment (with no help from us!) and he was clear at the other
end of the gym. He said "C'mon guys!! Let's get set up!!" After one
last shot at the hoop the ball bounced once and I hit it with my fist and
it took off. Clear to the other end of the gym. Before I could say "look
out" or anything, the ball hit lee right in the stomach and knocked the
wind out of him. He dropped to his knees and said with very little air
" I'm gonna get you for this". We still laugh about it as if it happened
yesterday.ISGMN:
How many bookings do you do per year?CB:
We currently travel about 130 days per year. There are a lot of churches
that we go to on an annual basis. Lee and Tim do preach and we hold revival
meetings as well.ISGMN:
How many recording projects have you done?CB:
We just completed our 11th recording. We hope to have it released in April
of this year. We are calling this one "A Message in Time". We do our recordings
with Benson Sound in Oklahoma City. Larry Benson ( who played with Jake
Hess and The Imperials) produced. We have been working with Larry
since 1975.ISGMN:
Do you or anyone in your group write any of your songs?CB:
None of us currently write songs. However Dwight did write a song
that we recorded back in 1989, called "In Death He Rent The Vail".ISGMN:
What process do you go through to select the songs for your project?CB:
We try to select songs that have a clear message and that will draw some
one to Christ. A lot of the songs we do are very old songs that we put
our own arrangement to. Songs like "My Jesus I Love Thee" or "The Message
Of His Coming". These songs have been around for many years but the message
is still very real for today.ISGMN:
Do you use a booking agent? If not, have you ever considered it?CB:
We don't have an agent for bookings. Lee takes care of bookings. I would
say that about 90% of the bookings are the result of pastors and others
making contact with us. God has blessed and provided. Our web site is helpful
in getting out info about our group as well. If I may, the web site iswww.crandallbrothers.com
. When a booking is made we send out a promo pack that will include a recording
and some picture and poster material and a letter of confirmation for the
event.ISGMN:
As a group, what advice can you give to others in how to get started?CB:
As for any advice for those thinking about music ministry, I would say
simply, be led by the Spirit of God and be anointed so people will be won
to Christ.ISGMN:
While you are not on the road, what home church do you attend?CB:
Tim and I live in the same town, Los Banos, Ca. and when we are not traveling
his wife and kids and mine as well attend Calvary Assembly of God in the
town of Hilmar. Lee lives in Rohnert Park, Ca. and attends New Hope Assembly
of God in Cotati,Ca.If
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